Energy efficiency in buildings has become the leading infrastructure priority for corporations, driven by cost pressures, regulatory demands, and decarbonization commitments, according to new survey data from Siemens’ Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025 study. Organizations increasingly see upgrades to existing building stock—rather than new construction—as the fastest, most financially compelling route to cutting emissions and improving resilience.
A clear majority of survey respondents plan to increase investment in energy-efficiency measures over the next few years, with 57% indicating they will boost spending specifically on building energy upgrades. These measures range from improved controls and building management systems to HVAC optimization, better insulation, and LED lighting retrofits, all framed as relatively low-risk, proven technologies that can deliver quick returns. Energy efficiency is positioned as the “first fuel” for decarbonization: cheaper and faster to deploy than many generation-side solutions, while also reducing exposure to volatile energy prices.
Corporate infrastructure decision-makers now rank energy efficiency above other capital priorities such as capacity expansion or purely aesthetic refurbishments. This reflects a shift in board-level thinking, where energy performance is no longer just an operational concern for facilities teams but a strategic lever for meeting ESG targets and reporting requirements. The survey findings suggest that investor and stakeholder scrutiny of climate plans is propelling this change, encouraging companies to demonstrate tangible progress through measurable reductions in building energy use.
Policy and market signals are reinforcing this focus on buildings. Regulatory frameworks, including minimum energy performance standards and disclosure rules for large properties, are nudging organizations toward systematic retrofit programs rather than ad-hoc projects. At the same time, rising expectations from employees and tenants for comfortable, sustainable workplaces make high-performing buildings an important factor in talent attraction and brand reputation.
Barriers remain, particularly around split incentives between landlords and renters, limited in-house expertise, and competition for capital with core business projects. However, new financing models, performance-based contracts, and digital energy management tools are helping to overcome these obstacles by de-risking projects and making savings more transparent. Examples include energy performance contracts where third parties guarantee savings, and advanced analytics platforms that continuously monitor building systems to lock in efficiency gains over time.
Energy efficiency has become a central pillar of corporate infrastructure strategy rather than a peripheral “green” add-on. With most surveyed organizations planning to step up investment, the near-term built-environment agenda is expected to be dominated by retrofits and optimization of existing assets, aligning cost control, climate objectives, and regulatory compliance in a single, compelling business case.
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